University of Houston–Victoria

University of Houston–Victoria

Type	State university
Established	1973
Endowment	US$15.2 million
President	Raymond V. Morgan, Jr.
Academic staff	213
Administrative staff	299
Students	4,335
Undergraduates	2,664
Postgraduates	1,671
Location	Victoria, Texas, U.S. 28°48′59″N 96°58′35″W / 28.816396°N 96.976372°W / 28.816396; -96.976372Coordinates: 28°48′59″N 96°58′35″W / 28.816396°N 96.976372°W / 28.816396; -96.976372
Campus	Suburban, 20 acres (0.08 km²)
Colors	Red, black and gold
Athletics	NAIA Division I – Red River
Sports	UHV Jaguars
Nickname	Jaguars
Affiliations	UH System AASCU
Website	uhv.edu

The University of Houston–Victoria (UHV) is a four-year state university and one of four distinct institutions in the University of Houston System. Its campus spans 20 acres (8.1 ha) in Victoria, with satellite location at UH System center in Katy. Founded in 1971, UHV has an enrollment of over 4,300 students.

The school's athletics teams are known as the UHV Jaguars; the university has fielded baseball and softball teams, and men’s and women’s soccer and golf teams. The UHV Jaguars are members of the Red River Athletic Conference and compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I.

The University of Houston–Victoria began as an effort in the late 1960s by the local community to bring a higher learning institution to Victoria. In 1971, the Coordinating Board of Texas College and University System created an off-campus center of the University of Houston known as the University of Houston Victoria Center. One hundred students enrolled at the center in its inaugural semester of spring 1973.

In April 1983, the Texas legislature passed Senate Bill 235, which granted the institution permanent degree-granting status in the state of Texas. The University of Houston Victoria Center was renamed the University of Houston–Victoria, and became the University of Houston System's fourth university.

UHV started its athletics program during the 2007-08 school year with the Jaguars baseball and softball team. Since then, the teams have competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Soccer and golf programs for both men and women began in fall 2010.

In October 2008, the UH System Board of Regents adopted a resolution authorizing UHV to seek enabling state legislation to add freshmen and sophomores. In the 81st Texas legislative session, Texas State Representative Geanie Morrison of Victoria introduced House Bill 1056, which would allow UHV to expand, and Texas State Senator Glenn Hegar introduced an identical bill, Senate Bill 567. Texas Governor Rick Perry signed HB 1056 into law on June 19, 2009. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools approved UHV to admit underclassmen and offer lower-division courses on November 17, 2009, and UHV also received its first freshman application the same day. UHV’s first freshmen and sophomores started taking classes in fall 2010, and the university’s first residence hall, Jaguar Hall, opened on the Victoria campus.